Increased by 3.8% between the second and the third quarter of 2012

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Business investment for the third quarter of 2012 was estimated to be 3.8% higher than the previous quarter at £31.5 billion, and 5.1% higher than the same period last year.

Business investment in private sector manufacturing in the third quarter of 2012 stood at £3.3 billion, little changed since the second quarter of 2012. The main changes were in metal and metal goods, increasing by £150 million (32.8%), partially offset by a decrease in other manufacturing, down £130 million (-19.6%).

Source:
Office for National Statistics

Background notes

Unless otherwise specified, growth refers to a comparison between the latest quarter and the previous quarter. Sometimes this is referred to as quarterly growth.

Annual growth refers to a comparison between a quarter and the same period in the previous year.

On 1 January 2011 a change was made to the zero-rating of VAT on qualifying aircraft. This may have contributed to the high level of aircraft imports for 2010 quarter four and the low level of aircraft imports for 2011 quarter one.